Originally a worker, Zariņš finished the Latvian conservatory in 1960, having studied with A. Vilumanis.
In 1960/61, he went to Bulgaria for further study with Ilija Josifov.
From 1960, Zariņš was a soloist of the
Latvian Opera and Ballet Theater in Riga.
In 1972, Zariņš started teaching at the Latvian conservatory, where he became a professor in 1983.
He was a dramatic tenor, whose main roles included José,
German, Tannhäuser, Radamès, Grigorij, Siegmund, Peter Grimes, Otello, Calaf, Vižuts (Baņuta by Alfrēds Kalniņš),
Kangars (Uguns un nakts/Fire and night by Jānis Mediņš),
Maris (Princese Gundega by Ādolfs Skulte), and Manrico.
He was also a noted concert singer, and sang in such works as Verdi's Requiem, Händel's Messiah, and Beethoven's
9th Symphony.
He had an unusually long career, appearing on stage until 2006. In 1990/91, he was also director of the
Riga opera theater.
Reference 1: Arkadij Pruzhanskij, Otechestvennye pevtsy 1750–1917, vol. 2, Moscow 2000
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